Author Jody Hedlund dependably pens characters with well-established personalities. I loved the nurturing tendencies of Elise and the gentlemanly determination of Thornton. It *did* take me a few chapters to really settle into the plot and the direction the story was taking, but I empathized with the characters immediately, especially concerning the plight of Elise and her family.

I liked that the challenges both Elise and Thornton face are not only tactile and physical but also challenges to their very hearts. Elise, for instance, faces finding a place for her family AND coming to terms with her faith that God is constant, and for her. Thornton deals with the manner of proving himself; whether choosing to set aside his pride is worth a greater, selfless task he can accomplish in the wake of his dreams.

Through the ups and downs of Elise and Thornton’s intersecting journeys, a sweetly natural romance emerges. Jody handles this with her signature style (read: era-appropriate swooniness) and realistic conflicts. The romance combines with the threads of faith, a story of finding a “true home”, and the belonging found with friends in a close community to make With You Always a rich story AND a lovely introduction to a new series.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary review copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

The plot of this book is not quite what I expected- when I hear "orphan train" I picture the children from the city getting placed in families out West. The author instead focuses on an orphaned family being torn apart as unemployed women are sent on trains to help establish new towns where there are jobs waiting to be filled. Of course, my expectations of the quality of writing were met- I learned so much history, was immersed in the setting, and the characters came to life with emotion and feeling as they navigate complex relationship dynamics and uncertain and desperate circumstances. The main perspectives are Elise and Thorton as they embark on new ventures in Illinois, but we also see some scenes from Elise's family she had to leave behind in New York. While Elise is the strong and stalwart oldest sister who takes on the responsibility of her sisters and the young children they take under their wing, on her journey we see her vulnerability and innocence as well as her fortitude and spunk. Thorton is drawn to her and his protective feelings quickly develop into something more, despite his plan to court and marry a high society lady he believes his father would approve of. Elise challenges his town development methods and unequal treatment of the female employees, and grows to admire him as he meets her challenges and is changed through the experience. There are villains lurking and conflict arises as Thorton's deadline grows closer, and Elise's concern for her sisters is validated. They both struggle with faith but their trials prove to be a refiner's fire that strengthens them as they reconcile with the Lord and turn to Him for guidance. Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

With You Always is about Elise a faith based woman who because of the death of her parents has taken it upon herself to look after her siblings and keep them all together. She found a shelter that provided a ;lace to stay and a job. She meets up with Thornton, who is in a kind of contest, set up by his father (nice father right?), against his twin brother. He is to build a town and get married in 6 months. Elise meets up with Thornton and Thornton starts to see things in a different light. GOD is so good isn't HE? Amen - Will Thornton succeed in his task? Will Elise keep her family together? Will Elise and Thornton see each other through the eyes of love? This book is unreal.........it is one incredible book, please do not miss out......

After thoroughly enjoying Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice trilogy, as well as Newton and Polly, I knew I'd want to try more of her stories. And once again I was not disappointed! As a reader who used to devour historical novels but has become drawn to contemporaries more often of late, it takes an exceptional author to get me back in the genre again. Let me just say that Ms. Hedlund is definitely exceptional! :) The characters, the setting, it drew me in and left me with all the feels by the final pages.

I grew rather fond of Elise as her journey progressed. She's had such a rough life and I admired her strength to keep going in spite of everything. I cannot imagine the sheer determination required of those who lived back then, the squalor and painful, hard work that they endured every single day. Makes me glad to live in modern times, for sure! I loved watching Elise create this new little family around her once she arrives out west. Especially how her friendship with Fanny grows slowly, but surely.

And then there's Thornton! I admit to getting a little thrill every time his name was on the page, just because it reminded me of Elizabeth Gaskell's John Thornton. (swoon ;) This Thornton is fairly swoonworthy as well, he and Elise certainly have great chemistry! Yet I was glad that they were both given a nice dose of reality in the initial stages of their romance because they needed it. But never let it be said that I didn't enjoy their adorableness together! For all their differences, they truly did complement each other very nicely.

I was easily swept up into these characters lives and was more than happy to stay there as long as possible! I do have to say that the ending felt slightly abrupt to me though. I figure that's mostly for setup to get me interested in book two and it worked! So while it kind of bothered me, I can easily forgive it. And anticipate the months until the next book comes out! :)

**I received a complimentary copy via Bethany House. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fantastic characters, fast plot, engaging time period.
Overall, a great read!

Review left on Goodreads and Amazon

I immensely enjoyed this historical fiction story and was so happy to read that it is first in a series. This gives a bird's eye view of some immigrants had to go through during this time period. The contest was an interesting idea on how to develop new towns in midwest that added to the story. Highly recommended. Looking forward to the next book.

This is a wonderful story of Elise and her determination to make a better life for her and her family. I was concerned when she came upon misfortunes and cheered when she conquered her fears. Elise thought she was just a plain, immigrant girl but she was so much more.

Thornton met Elise and couldn't get her off of his mind. He knew she was someone special but he was so caught up with proving to his father he was worthy and the competition against his brother. He almost lost a wonderful gift from GOD.

GOD was with Elise always. She didn't realize it. She fought against it. She refused to believe it but GOD was right there.

The answers we often seek are sometimes right in front of us. We get so caught up with everything around us that we need to just stop. We need to stop- take a moment to reflect- pray to our Heavenly Father and the answer will come. GOD is there to guide us every step of the way.

Elise and Thornton's story is an excellent example of this. GOD was there and he provided.

Great book. I loved the story and look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you, Jody Hedlund, for giving me hours of enjoyment.

From our comfortable armchairs in the 21st century, it's difficult to imagine what life was like for immigrants in the 1800s. Jody Hedlund asks the big 'What if?' questions that help the reader understand what life was like for an unprotected female in the 1850s but forces us to consider our assumptions about 'the poor' and our response to their plight.

Hedlund does a masterful job of describing the society--both wealthy and destitute in a time period when the two groups seldom interacted with each other. Thornton Quincy's father, a scion of power and wealth in New York City, challenges Thornton and his twin brother to contest to see who is most worthy of inheriting the estate and business when he dies. Despite his silver-spoon upbrining, Thornton has a heart for charity and the plight of the under trodden-that awakens even more when has a chance encounter with Elise, a destitute German immigrant.

The paths of Thornton and Elise cross again when Elise agrees to go west to help populate a new town in order to save her sisters from starvation. Sparks fly as Thornton and Elise meet again on the train west and Elise opens Thornton's eyes to just how unfair the prevailing attitudes towards the poor really are.

With You Always by Jody Hedlund is the first book in the author’s new Orphan Train series. The novel starts in 1857 in New York. Elise Neumann and her two sisters were out on the streets until Miss Pendleton discovers them. She persuades them to move into her Seventh Street Mission. Elise works as a seamstress in the workroom on site until the recession hits. Left with no choice, Elise agrees to go west with New York Children’s Aid Society to find work as a seamstress. Marianne and Sophie, Elise’s sisters will stay in New York with Miss Pendleton at the mission along with two young children the Neumann’s took in. Thornton Quincy and his twin, Bradford are given a challenge by their dying father. The son who establishes a sustainable town along the Illinois Central Railroad and marries for love will become the new head of his company (they only have six months). Thornton establishes the town of Quincy, Illinois (want to guess where Elise ends up). Elise and Thornton had met in New York during the gang riots and Elise made an impression upon Thornton. They meet up again on the train and have an instant connection. But Thornton cannot let himself be distracted from his goal of winning the competition. As it turns out, Elise can help Thornton with the town and his life. Can Thornton give Elise up to marry a woman of his class? Which brother will win the competition?

With You Always is well-written, has a steady pace and flow, and good characters. I enjoyed the authors descriptive writing which brought the story and characters to life. The characters were lifelike with real life troubles, sorrows, happiness and love. I liked Elise (and her values) and how she influenced Thornton and others. There is a light, Christian theme throughout the book that I appreciated. We see how God is always with us not matter how we feel towards Him. I enjoyed the authors take on the orphan trains. I have read several books about the children sent out west to find homes, but there are very few on the woman that went looking for work. I was drawn into this story and it held my attention until the end. There are several storylines in this novel, but it is easy to keep track of them along with the related characters. Ms. Hedlund did a wonderful job of portraying this time period. She showed the struggles that immigrants, women, and the poor faced in our country and the difficult choices they faced. I give With You Always 4.5 out of 5 stars. At the end of the book, I was left with a couple of unanswered questions. It is frustrating and disappointing when you finish a book and it is incomplete. I hope answers are provided in the next book in the Orphan Train series (which I will be reading).

With You Always

An Orphan Train novel

By Jody Hedlund

Starting the story with the free novella, An Awakened Heart, we learn of the hardships of Elise Neumann and her family. She is discovered living on the New York streets by socialite Christine Pendleton. Christine volunteers at the Centre Street Chapel trying to make a difference in the lives of the destitute immigrants. Along with Guy Bedell, Christine tries to help orphans living on the streets especially Elise and her sisters.

In With You Always, a crisis leaves Elise taking care of her sisters and two children of a family friend. When her work as a seamstress becomes null and void, she has to take a job out of state in Illinois so the family can survive. She joins the train taking orphans to the Midwest to find work in a new railroad town; leaving her sisters in the care of Christine and Guy.

Previously during a riot in New York, she met Thornton Quincy who helped her escape back to safety at the chapel mission. It isn’t until Elise boards the train that she meets him again.

Thornton is a son in one of New York City’s wealthiest families. With his father dying, he is tasked in a competition against his twin brother. The son that succeeds in building a town along the Illinois Central Railroad, and truly falls in love will inherit the family business.

However, Thornton didn’t count on how important Elise would become to not only his town, but also to his heart.

Elise boarded the train thinking she was getting a job as a seamstress only to become the train depot restaurant chef.

With sabotage, intrigue and a pinch of spice, so much more than dining room fare starts to cook in this historical romance.

Jody Hedlund brings the trials and tribulations of the 1850’s women to light. When reading her historicals, you feel as if you are in the story right along the characters.

In her new series Jody Hedlund explores the Orphan Trains and the women that were an integral part of them.

As Jody Hedlund says, “Many of us have long been fascinated by the era of the Orphan Trains and the heartrending stories of the homeless and helpless young orphans who were taken from the streets of New York and other eastern cities and shipped west by the dozens.
While stories of the orphans who rode the trains have been told, and rightly so, the stories of the women who were involved in the movement are not as well known. One of the things I like to do when telling my stories is to focus on women who have been overlooked by the pages of history. I consider it a great privilege to bring forgotten women to life for new generations of readers. Thus throughout this series I’ll be focusing each book on a different aspect of the Orphan Train movement, particularly from the perspectives of women who experienced riding the trains in one form or another.”

I always enjoy Jody’s novels as they are entertaining to be swept up along with the characters as they journey through their adventure but also because I learn a day-in-the-life of women in the history of American life. Jody champions the struggles that women faced leading to the advances we have nowadays. Without these women that fought with strength, we might not have the social justices we have won today.

I look forward to the next episode of where the trains take us.

For more information and to find out where to get the free novella Awakened Heart be sure to visit Jody Hedlund’s website at www.jodyhedlund.com



FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Bethany House publishing and author Jody Hedlund for review purposes only; no other compensation was awarded.

Jody Hedlund has fast become one of my favorite authors. I read An Awakened Heart, which is the prequel to this book, and was so intrigued by it that I knew I wanted to continue the story and read With You Always. I definitely was not disappointed--in fact I didn’t want it to end. Jody Hedlund is a master storyteller. Her exquisite prose, memorable characters, and attention to historical detail drew me in quickly and held me spellbound until the last page. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. This wasn’t an easy book to read, because it featured the plight of poverty-stricken immigrants in New York City and other areas of the country in the 1850s, however, it is a captivating glimpse into part of American history. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical Christian fiction.

It is a well known fact that Jody writes some of my favorite books of all time. Her ability to express the time and place in a beautifully real way has drawn me into more than one story. And on more than one occasion, my attention would not be relinquished until I turned the last page of the book (or longer).

With You Always is the beginning of a new series and it is full of the same passion and faith that infuses Jody's other books. Elise is an immigrant woman in New York during the mid 1800s. A challenging time for many people, a single woman trying to take care of her siblings had limited options. When heading west to find employment, Elise struggles between doing what is best for her family and not wanting to be separated from them. Will she open her heart to God and allow Him to guide her steps?

With so much uncertainty about his future, Thornton Quincy battles to find his identity. Constantly being compared to his brother, he has never allowed himself to find who he truly is and the kind of man that he wants to be.


The emotions in this story gripped me from the start. So much suffering, so many families torn apart, my heart was (and still is) heavy with the situations that our characters face. However, it was so encouraging to witness God's hand weaving in and out of their lives. Lining up the pieces and placing everything in order. Although, beware the cliff hanger. AH! I am hoping that this story continues if not strictly from Elise's perspective than maybe Marianne's or Sophie's....because I NEED ANSWERS!!! Ok, that is all...Pick up this book, read it, and let me know what you think of it! I think this is a brilliant opening to the series and a unique look into an aspect of history that is so easily overlooked.

I received a complimentary copy of With You Always from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The stories behind The Orphan Train have always fascinated me. That people were so desperate that they sent their children away to be adopted by other people. Those stories did not always have happy endings. What I didn't know was that during the financial crisis of the 1850s, the Children's Aid Society also sent out women: usually seamstresses and trade girls to work on the new frontier. Their stories also didn't always have happy endings.

Here we learn about Elise Neumann who must leave New York for a job in Illinois to provide for her younger siblings after their mother dies. Elise crosses paths with Thornton Quincy, the son of one of New York's wealthiest men. Thornton and his brother are in a competition to see who can establish a successsful town first and inherit their father's business.

Jody Hedlund has a way of showcasing, not only the human spirit, but the strength of women and this is just one reason I adore her writing. Elise is feisty and soon realizes that the opportunities promised in New York are far from ideal. I loved how she stood up to Thornton and convinced him to work alongside his employees so that he might now how the working class feel. And Thornton finally standing up to his brother and father was awesome.

The story is tinged with sadness and heartbreak and while not a cliffhanger, we are left with uncertainty about Elise's family and I am grateful that this is the first of a series so that we might know what happens to everyone.

Storyline
This story starts off in New York City during the 1850's. Elise Neumann is the oldest of three girls, and after losing their parents, she is left with taking care of her family. When a financial crisis hits and jobs are scarce, Elise knows she must do whatever necessary to provide. She hears the New York Children's Aid Society is offering jobs for ladies in the Midwest. Hesitant to leave her sisters, she takes a position knowing this might be their last hope.

Thornton Quincy, son of one of the wealthiest families in New York, is on a mission. His father has offered a challenge to his twin sons, in light of his declining health, to see who will inherit the family business. He requires them to do accomplish two objectives within six months: they must each build a successful town along the Illinois Central Railroad, and they must get married. Thornton didn't factor Elise into his plans but as they get to know one another, she challenges him and he must decide whether to fight to win or fight for what is right!

Depth
One piece of historical knowledge the reader will gain is getting a vivid picture of what life was like for women and orphans during this time period in New York; not pretty. Dangers, separation from family and poverty abound for them, and each of Elise's sisters feel the pain with different circumstances.

Elise and Thornton both feel inadequate. For Elise, this means continuing to fail at fulfilling her dying mother's last wish - and realizing she cannot do it on her own. Thornton continually feels as though he doesn't measure up to his twin brother. He desires to make his dad proud and longs to hear him declare it before he passes away. Both characters battle insecurities and worth, but in time take on different perspectives.

Faith
After living through many painful experiences, Elise has pushed God away - feeling as if He has abandoned them. She comes to learn that she was the one who walked away. Bad things will happen in life and we all will face trials, however, God promises to walk through them with by our side and will never leave us. Elise and Thornton both experience God's faithfulness. We always appreciate how well Jody weaves faith into her stories!

Love Story
Thornton and Elise have a very up and down relationship. Thornton is practically engaged to a lady back in New York that would be a perfect fit for him, according to society. His head knows it; but he cannot get his heart to believe it. Elise and Thornton battle feelings of wanting the other, yet are plagued with wondering if it could ever work. We experience many sweet and tender moments with these two! Will it last? Or will they give in to what is expected and let their hearts suffer?

This is an interesting story of immigrants in New York and the many hardships they faced. Elise faced an even harsher reality after the deaths of her parents as she took on the responsibility of her younger sisters. When the sisters are given shelter and Elise, a job as a seamstress it seemed as though their luck would change. Boy, was I wrong!

She meets quite a few interesting characters in New York, especially one named Thornton Quincy. I liked him so much, even though I felt bad for him since his father decided to have his twin sons compete to declare the winner of running his company. They also have to get married. It added a bit of fun to the storyline.

I loved the characters and the historical aspect of the book. What I liked most about it though is how well written it is. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and have given my honest opinion.

With You Always, written by Jody Hedlund, is book #1 of the Orphan Train series.

What a read. I loved it. Hedlund took us on a few train rides from New York to the new town of Quincy, IL. We follow Elise Newmann and her family through the struggles of their parents dying, being homeless, and then to Elise taking a job in the West to be able to support her siblings.

I loved how Hedlund developed the character of Thornton Quincy. She took a somewhat self-centered rich New York businessman and made him into a man of integrity.

I love books where you can read of the redemptive qualities of characters who start out lacking character qualities. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my own.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RL0NZUHVXQ2NO/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
https://www.christianbook.com/with-you-always-orphan-train/jody-hedlund/9780764218040/product-reviews/218040?rpp=5&event=ESRCP&page=2

With You Always is the first installment of Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series and to be truthful is a great beginning. I had the privilege of being apart of Jody Hedlund's influencer team for this book. For me personally, being an influencer for any author is hard because I never want to hurt the author's feelings by not liking their books. Jody Hedlund does not have to worry though. I really liked this book. Everything about the book, the time period, the characters , and the plot was intriguing till the end. When I was reading this book, I could imagine each scene. Elise and Thornton are great main characters. I started this book thinking "Oh, I will be able to put this down, when I need to do other things," but that was not the case. Every time I was interrupted, I was like, "No, I need to keep reading. Go away." So last night, I was up really late reading and I finished the book. Hedlund did an excellent job with this book. A good book, to me, is a book that I cannot put down, and I could not put this book down.

I would recommend this book and cannot wait for the next two in this series. To readers who like historical fiction, this books is worth taking the time to read.

This looks like the start to an interesting series. I always find it interesting to learn about things from the past in the context of a story. It gives me knowledge of how things were without seeming like a history lesson. I knew some about this time period, but enjoyed learning more.
I liked how Elise took the initiative to step out and do what needed to be done to help out her family even if it meant leaving them. She had the courage needed to do this and relied on faith to help her out. Thornton was an interesting character as he set out with a motive in mind and soon found himself doing things for different reasons. I liked how he grew as a person. I look forward to more in this series.
I received a copy of the book from the author, the review is entirely my own.

I literally just finished the book an hour ago and my head is still in Illinois. Ms. Hedlund takes back to the 1850's, with financial crisis, orphans, and twin brothers competing to inherit everything from their dying father.
I first thought the father was a little loopy to pit his sons against each other, but in the end you see he was actually pretty smart in his thinking.
Even though Thornton is pretty much engaged to a girl back in New York, Ms. Hedlund creates quite the romantic tension between him and Elise. Thornton is swoon worthy, Elise is pretty and devoted to her sisters. There are kisses that will have you catching your breath, and a little bit of mystery to keep you turning the pages. The spiritual thread is woven perfectly through the story. It shows God not forsaking us even when we maybe fearful of trusting.